Julius eyes caught sight of a blood splatter at the side, but it wasn’t his.
He raised his head, and his eyes widened.
Khana, his mother, was sprawled in front of him. A palm strike etched on the side of her face, her mouth bleeding fresh blood.
Varnel’s cold voice came next.
“You useless whore. I’ve always suspected you spread your legs for another wretched soul. This trash can’t be mine.”
Khana forced herself to kneel.
“P-please Varnel, he’s just a child. I’ve only ever been faithful to you…”
“You lying bitch.”
Varnel thundered, his anger flaring. He raised his hand again, and the sounds of palm striking flesh echoed across the room as he continued to beat Khana.
‘She protected me,’ Julius realized as he watched the scene with trembling eyes.
He could feel a twisted sensation deep in his stomach.
“M-Mom…” He clenched his fists. He wanted to jump in and stop the beatings, but his body refused to move.
His fear rooted him in place.
‘Y-you’re useless…’ he thought.
As all of this happened, there was one person in the room who didn’t so much as flinch.
The third figure kneeling beside them, Aurelia.
Aurelia was silent. She hadn’t uttered a single word since Varnel began his rampage. She simply… observed.
‘He always does this.’
At this point in her life, she was numb to the scene.
For as long as Aurelia could remember, Varnel had always had a bad temper. When she was a child, she once saw him punish Khana for wearing the wrong clothes.
And that was just one example, there were more absurd reasons. Nothing that could ever justify laying hands on a woman you claimed to love.
‘A predator.’
That was the name she gave him when she grew older.
Aurelia had always been a quiet child. Barely speaking during dinners, answering questions with one word replies, each one meant to shut down conversation.
She watched. She listened. And the more she observed Varnel, the darker her heart became.
He was nothing but a predator.
‘Soon.’
Aurelia clenched her fist as Varnel struck Khana again.
She had always felt purposeless. Aimless. Nothing had ever truly been worth the effort.
But Varnel… Varnel had given her something she lacked all her life.
Purpose.
A reason to grow stronger. A reason she trained every single day.
Her crimson eyes flashed cold.
No matter how long it took… no matter the challenges… she would grow strong enough to drive a dagger through her father’s heart.
Predators were a stain on the world.
And she fully intended to wipe it clean.
…
[Vita Core Interface]
Name: Malakai Von Sanguine
Lineage: Direct Descendant of the Sanguine Clan
Title(s): [Successor of Life] [Ruined Heir] [Worthless Trash] [Rising Underdog] [Army Slayer] (New!)
Talent Grade: ???
Vita Stored: 12,550 / 9,730 → 12,620 Units
Vita Absorption Rate: 2.3 → 2.5 V/s (High Density) | 1.7 →1.9 V/s (Normal Zone)
Evolution Stage: Node Formation Stage [2/7]
Base Attributes:
• Strength: 180 → 185 [150 – 200]
• Dexterity: 192 → 270 [155 – 215]
• Vitality: 260 → 340 [150 – 200]
• Perception: 280 → 283 [165 – 220]
• Willpower: 126 → 130 [80 – 150]
• Control: 115 → 120 [10 – 50]
[Node Map]
• Blood Node: Active [13 → 14% refined]
• Muscle Node: Sealed
• Nerve Node: Sealed
• Bone Node: Sealed
• Breath Node: Sealed
• Digestion Node: Sealed
• Synaptic Node: Sealed
• Cellular Node: Sealed
• Endocrine Node: Sealed
• Immune Node: Sealed
• Sensory Node: Sealed
• Body Node: Sealed (Opens when all primary nodes are awakened and refined at 100%)
Malakai stared at his stats calmly. Only three days had passed since he last checked them, and already, there had been a significant leap.
‘The heart node affects a lot of things,’ Malakai noted.
He was satisfied with the changes, but his conversation with Valentine had dimmed any excitement he might’ve felt. The future was uncertain.
Still, he observed the changes.
‘The most affected is my dexterity and vitality.’
Dexterity wasn’t just agility. It covered much more. And creating a node in his heart had boosted it significantly.
His vitality increasing was expected. With the surge in vita running through his body, his healing prowess would naturally improve.
Malakai took note of all the changes calmly. His eyes lingered on his new title before he dispersed the status screen.
“Good?” Valentine asked.
Malakai nodded. “Good.”
‘Five more to go.’
With the heart node formed, he had five more nodes to create.
‘The next should go there.’
He already knew where the next node would be formed. Still, Malakai focused on the present.
“What about that Fresh Blood ranking thingy? You said you’d gain access after the hunt, right?”
Malakai nodded. “Yes, but I have to wait until I join the Blood Knight officially.”
“So in five days then…”
Malakai nodded again. Valentine took on a thoughtful look.
“Do you even know where you’re going in five days?”
“No, I don’t. But I plan on asking Nyx to find out, so I can prepare better.”
“What about safety? Will Nyx be coming along?” Valentine asked.
“We’re allowed to take our maids with us, yes.”
“That’s reassuring. At least you don’t have to worry about safety anymore.” He paused, then added, “I’m still trying to understand how this Blood thingy works. You have Knights… and Guardians?”
“Consider the Blood Knights a police force, but only for darkness creatures. The Blood Guardians police regular humans.”
“So you’ll only be responding to darkness related threats?”
“Yeah.”
Valentine fell silent after that, allowing Malakai to think about his next priority.
‘The rewards.’
The rewards for the hunt made Malakai believe that his efforts had truly been worth it.
‘A 40% increase.’
Malakai wasn’t sure yet how that increase would affect his overall rankings, but he was certain it would be positive. No doubt.
Still, he would have to wait until he officially joined the Blood Knight and gained access to the Fresh Blood rankings to see for himself.
But that wasn’t the only reward for securing first place.
‘A grade three vita core, a vita ranked weapon and… a grade two vial of Vitaeon.’
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